CSOs Call for Regional Unity on Climate Finance at COP31

Civil society organisations in Bangladesh have called for stronger regional unity among Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal (BBN) to secure equitable climate finance and climate justice beyond graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.

The Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), in collaboration with the Climate Justice Alliance-Bangladesh (CJA-B), Upokul O Sundarban Suraksha Andolon, Climate Action Forum, Shariatpur Development Society (SDS), Sachetan Sangstha and other civil society and development partner organisations, organised a press conference in Dhaka on Friday.

Titled “Addressing the LDC Graduation Paradox and Climate Risks in BBN: Urgency for a Vulnerability-Based Adaptation Narrative under UNFCCC”, the event was held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Conference Hall of the National Press Club ahead of COP31.

The 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.

Speakers highlighted the interconnected climate vulnerabilities of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, stressing the need for coordinated regional advocacy and a vulnerability-based approach to climate adaptation and financing.

Despite their distinct geographical and socioeconomic contexts, the three countries are connected through a wider mountain-to-delta climate system. They face shared risks from Himalayan glacier retreat, changing monsoon patterns, altered river flows, extreme rainfall and heat, sea-level rise and salinity intrusion.

These transboundary and cascading risks are increasingly threatening livelihoods, infrastructure, climate-sensitive economic sectors and public finances across the region, they said.

Chairing the press conference, Md Shamsuddoha, chief executive of CPRD and coordinator of CJA-B, highlighted what he described as the LDC graduation paradox facing the BBN countries.

He said economic progress and the achievements leading to LDC graduation did not necessarily translate into reduced climate vulnerability or greater capacity to withstand recurring climate shocks.

Bhutan has already graduated from the LDC category, while Bangladesh and Nepal are undergoing their respective graduation processes. However, all three countries continue to face significant climate-related vulnerabilities, he said.

Shamsuddoha called for collective advocacy and coordinated adaptation measures by the governments and civil society organisations of the three countries at COP31 and beyond.

Presenting the keynote paper, Sumaiya Binte Anwar, programme manager for research and advocacy at CPRD, stressed the need for a fundamental shift in the international adaptation and climate finance framework to recognise persistent and future climate vulnerabilities beyond conventional development classifications.

Rabeya Begum, executive director of SDS, said graduation from LDC status should not be treated as graduation from climate vulnerability. She called on the international community, developed countries and multilateral climate finance institutions to ensure that development progress did not become a reason to withdraw essential international adaptation support.

Aminur Rasul, chair of the Climate Action Forum, said the adaptation needs and fundamental survival rights of climate-vulnerable communities must not be subordinated to the mitigation priorities or economic interests of developed countries.

Nikhil Chandra, coordinator of Upokul O Sundarban Suraksha Andolon, said adaptation and mitigation should be treated as complementary pillars of climate action. He called for adequate international support for adaptation, reflecting the historical responsibilities of developed countries and the urgent needs of vulnerable nations.

Mir Mohammad Ali, assistant professor in the Department of Aquaculture at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, stressed the need for collective regional advocacy, stronger government-civil society engagement and a unified approach to securing equitable adaptation support and climate finance at COP31 and beyond.

Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of the Dhaka Reporters Unity, called for separating economic graduation from climate vulnerability and urged BBN countries to make grant-based adaptation finance a non-negotiable demand at future COPs.

Other participants included Habibur Rahman of Swacheton Foundation, Md Anwar Hossain of Riverine People, Sheikh Nur Ataya Rabbi, programme manager for research and advocacy at CPRD, and representatives of civil society organisations, climate and environmental experts, human rights advocates and other stakeholders.

They shared their perspectives on the climate challenges facing the BBN countries and emphasised the need for collective action.

The press conference identified three key policy demands for the BBN countries to advance at COP31 and beyond:

Prioritise adaptation in global climate negotiations: Ensure that adaptation remains a central pillar of climate action, guided by vulnerability, equity and human rights, with greater recognition of transboundary and cascading climate risks across the BBN region.

Guarantee adaptation finance beyond LDC graduation: Establish a sustained financing mechanism to ensure continued access to predictable, accessible, grant-based and highly concessional adaptation finance for climate-vulnerable countries, regardless of their LDC graduation status.

Strengthen coordinated BBN action on climate adaptation: Develop a common regional advocacy and negotiating agenda among Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal to address shared climate risks, strengthen adaptation implementation and ensure transparent and accountable delivery of climate finance.